Collapsible mobile cabinet for wardrobe

ABSTRACT

A collapsible mobile cabinet for use in a wardrobe is constructed to have a plurality of flexible partition panels horizontally disposed at different elevations and adapted to support storage items, each flexible partition panel being reinforced with a plurality of transversely extended reinforcing rod members so that the flexible partition panels do not curve downwards when carrying heavy storage items.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the invention

[0002] The present invention relates to wardrobes and, morespecifically, to a collapsible mobile cabinet for use in a wardrobe.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] In a wardrobe, a collapsible mobile cabinet may be selectivelyused for keeping small items. FIG. 1 illustrates a mobile cabinet forthis purpose. As illustrated, the collapsible mobile cabinet, referencedby 1, has a top hanging rod 2 for hanging in a wardrobe, and a pluralityof partition panels 11 disposed at different elevations for supportingstorage items. The partition panels 11 are formed of canvass notreinforced with hard support means. When a relatively heavier storageitem carried on one partition panel 11, the partition panel 11 is forcedto curve downwards by the gravity weight of the storage item, i.e.,there is a difference of elevation L between the two opposite lateralsides of the partition panel 11 and the middle part thereof. The curvedpartition panels destroy the sense of beauty of the mobile cabinet and,may cause the storage items to deform.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention has been accomplished under thecircumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention toprovide a collapsible mobile cabinet for wardrobe, which has means tosupport the partition panels against deformation when supporting storageitems. According to one aspect of the present invention, the collapsiblemobile cabinet comprises a plurality of flexible partition panelshorizontally disposed at different elevations and adapted to supportstorage items. Each flexible partition panel is reinforced with aplurality of transversely extended reinforcing rod members so that theflexible partition panels do not curve downwards when carrying heavystorage items. According to another aspect of the present invention, thereinforcing rod members include a first reinforcing rod membertransversely extended along the front side of the respective flexiblepartition panel, and at least one second reinforcing rod membertransversely disposed in a middle part of the respective flexiblepartition panel. According to still another aspect of the presentinvention, transverse pockets are formed in the bottom side of eachflexible partition panel by stitches to accommodate the reinforcing rodmembers. Alternatively, flexible flaps may be provided at the bottomside of each flexible partition panel for securing the reinforcing rodmembers to the flexible partition panels by hook and loop materials.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006]FIG. 1 is an applied view of a collapsible mobile cabinet forwardrobe according to the prior art.

[0007]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a collapsible mobile cabinet forwardrobe according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0008]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a collapsible mobile cabinet forwardrobe according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0009]FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a part of FIG. 2.

[0010]FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 4 but showing an additional pocketprovided at the bottom side of the flexible partition panel and insertedwith an additional reinforcing rod member.

[0011]FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a part of the second embodiment ofthe present invention before fixing of the free ends of the flaps.

[0012]FIG. 7 is similar to FIG. 76 but showing the free end of each flapfixed to the flexible partition panel.

[0013]FIG. 8 is another partial view in section of the second embodimentof the present invention.

[0014]FIG. 9 is similar to FIG. 7 but shown an additional flap providedat the bottom side of the flexible partition panel and an additionalreinforcing rod member secured to the additional flap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0015] Referring to FIG. 2, a folding collapsible cabinet 1 for wardrobeis formed of a flexible sheet material (for example, canvass, having atop side, a bottom side, two opposite vertical lateral sides, and avertical back side. The front side of the folding collapsible cabinet 1is an open side. The folding collapsible cabinet 1 has a plurality offlexible horizontal partition panels 11 disposed at different elevationsand adapted to support storage items.

[0016] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 and FIG. 2 again, each flexiblehorizontal partition panel 11 has a plurality of transverse pockets 12transversely disposed at the bottom side, and two reinforcing rodmembers 3 respectively fitted into the transverse pockets 12. Thepockets 12 are fastened to the flexible horizontal partition panels 11by stitches. The reinforcing rod members 3 are circular rods. Accordingto the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, there are two transverse pockets 12provided at the bottom side of the flexible horizontal partition panel11, i.e., one extended along the front side of the flexible horizontalpartition panel 11 and the other extended along the transverse midlineof the flexible horizontal partition panel 11. According to theembodiment shown in FIG. 5, there are two transverse pockets arranged inparallel in the middle part of the flexible horizontal partition panel11. Further, the reinforcing rod members 3 used in FIGS. 4 and 5 areround rods.

[0017] Referring to FIG. 3 and FIGS. 6˜9, as an alternate form of thepresent invention, each horizontal partition panel 11 has a plurality oftransversely extended flaps 13 adapted to secure flat reinforcing rodmembers 4 at the bottom side by tapes of hook material 131 at the flaps13 and tapes of loop material 111 at the bottom wall of the horizontalpartition panel 11. The flat reinforcing rod members 4 are rectangularslats, having a rectangular cross section.

[0018] As indicated above, the respective horizontal partition panels 11are reinforced by the reinforcing rod members 3 or slats 4. When theuser put storage items on the horizontal partition panels 11, thereinforcing rod members 3 or slats 4 support the respective horizontalpartition panels 11 in shape, and therefore the heavy load of thestorage items does not cause the horizontal partition panels 11 tocurve.

[0019] A prototype of collapsible mobile cabinet for wardrobe has beenconstructed with the features of FIGS. 2˜9. The collapsible mobilecabinet for wardrobe functions smoothly to provide all of the featuresdiscussed earlier.

[0020] Although particular embodiments of the invention have beendescribed in detail for purposes of illustration, various modificationsand enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited exceptas by the appended claims.

1-6. (canceled).
 7. A collapsible mobile cabinet formed of a flexiblesheet material, comprising a top side, a bottom side, two oppositevertical lateral sides, and a vertical back side, a front side of saidfolding collapsible cabinet being an open side, a plurality of flexiblehorizontal partition panels disposed at different elevations and adaptedto support storage items, each of said flexible horizontal partitionpanels having a plurality of transverse pockets transversely disposed ata bottom side, two reinforcing rod members respectively fitted into saidtransverse pockets, said pockets being fastened to said flexiblehorizontal partition panels by stitches, said reinforcing rod membersbeing circular rods, said reinforcing rod members including a first rodmember transversely extended along a front side thereof and at least onesecond rod member arranged in parallel to said first rod member at amiddle part thereof.